Coming up on the 20th anniversary of Pacers guard Reggie Miller choking the Knicks in the 1994 Eastern Conference finals, this seems like a good time to discuss the importance of great shooters in the playoffs. USA TODAY Sports' Adi Joseph ranks the 10 best in the second round. (Photo: Paul Bereswill, AP file)

10. Trevor Ariza, Washington Wizards: Ariza has taken a strange path to here, having the best season of his career on a team he's often seen as a secondary member of. But his shooting, along with his defense and toughness, has been an enormous part of Washington's success, and he shot a team best 40.7% on threes and went 13-for-28 in Round 1. (Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)

9. Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets: Often derided in the past for his overzealousness, the seven-time All-Star took smarter threes and developed a knack for hitting the biggest ones. He shot 40.1% from three this season, the second-best showing of his career. (Photo: Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sports)

8. J.J. Redick, Los Angeles Clippers. He was brought on to stretch defenses and give the Clippers an efficient shooter. At a team-best 39.5% this season, the former Duke star has done just that when healthy. (Photo: Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports)

7. Marco Belinelli, San Antonio Spurs: He has the best regular-season three-point percentage (.430) of anyone still alive and won the three-point contest at the All-Star break. So why so low? He's fallen in and out of favor with coach Gregg Popovich during a streaky second half. (Photo: Derick Hingle, USA TODAY Sports)

6. Wesley Matthews, Portland Trail Blazers: The stocky shooting guard went undrafted in 2009 but made the NBA because he can shoot and defend. He's taken that to the maximum in the past few years and took a career-high 511 threes last season, making 39.3%. (Photo: Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports)

5. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards: He came in hailed as the next Ray Allen, drafted third overall in 2012. He's delivered so far, hitting 40.2% of his threes while showing off an uncanny natural stroke, particularly when receiving passes from John Wall. (Photo: Brad Mills Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)

4. Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs: He can be a game-changer for the best team in the Western Conference, as he was throughout last season's playoffs. The former Development Leaguer has become a starter, making 41.5% of his threes this season, because of his shooting range and defensive ability. (Photo: Soobum Im Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports)

3. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers: Did you see his shot against the Rockets? That's it right there. Lillard, who made 39.4% of his threes in the regular season, not only shoots remarkably well off the dribble and off the catch but also has a penchant for difficult crunch-time bombs. (Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer, USA TODAY Sports)

2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: The presumed NBA MVP also ranks among the league's best shooters. Durant made 39.1% of this threes this season but often took those heavily guarded. His ability to hit an open shot means the 25-year-old could be an effective player late in his 30s. (Photo: Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports)

1. Ray Allen, Miami Heat: Think Game 6. His three-pointer in last year's Finals allowed the Heat to stave off elimination. He's the most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history, and even despite dipping to 37.5% on threes this year, his teammates always will trust him. (Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)

During the 2013 NBA playoffs, Spurs guard Danny Green introduced himself to the world. Who might do the same this year? USA TODAY Sports' Adi Joseph takes a crack at picking breakout stars for every playoff team. (Photo: Brendan Maloney, USA TODAY Sports)

Pacers shooting guard Lance Stephenson blossomed during last season's playoffs. But now he is fighting for a paycheck, as he becomes a free agent after the season, so expect an even bigger showing this spring. (Photo: David Richard, USA TODAY Sports)

Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade already has a full Hall of Fame résumé, with three rings and a scoring title to his credit. But he could reassert himself as a present-day star after getting a lot of rest during the regular season. (Photo: Russell Isabella, USA TODAY Sports)

Raptors power forward Amir Johnson long has been an unheralded role player but could make his name in the playoffs because of his leadership role on Toronto's top-10 defense. (Photo: Tom Szczerbowski, USA TODAY Sports)

Bulls power forward Taj Gibson deserves a look for sixth man of the year but probably won't get his due credit because his stats aren't gaudy enough. Still, he's one of the best defensive big men in the NBA and should play more late-game minutes than Carlos Boozer. (Photo: Marilyn Indahl, USA TODAY Sports)

Nets center Mason Plumlee may be the most efficient player in this rookie class, but he spent much of his season laboring on the bench. In the month leading up to the playoffs, he averaged 10.4 points a game, shot 72.7% from the field and established himself as a viable option if Kevin Garnett can't go. (Photo: Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)

Wizards power forward Trevor Booker has been told to be more assertive all season, and he finally is taking that in stride. His role decreased with the return of Nene, but he is the hardest worker on the team and plays with reckless abandon. (Photo: Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports)

Bobcats guard Gary Neal is the most playoff-tested player on the team, having been a big part of last year's Finals run for the Spurs. He has found his stroke since joining Charlotte in February and should take on a leadership role for the first time in his career. (Photo: Joshua S. Kelly, USA TODAY Sports)

Hawks power forward Mike Scott spent five seasons at the University of Virginia, so late-bloomer fits him. But he has emerged in his second NBA season as an efficient post scorer for a team that needs the help inside. (Photo: Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports)

Spurs point guard Patty Mills mostly has stayed in Tony Parker's shadow, but in the second half he may have outplayed his often-aching counterpart. Mills' explosive scoring ability can ignite the Spurs' second unit, the best in the NBA. (Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer, USA TODAY Sports)

Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook needs to put the critics to rest. He already is in the conversation for the best point guard in the NBA when healthy, but naysayers suggest he holds Kevin Durant back. A championship-level performance could end that talk once and for all. (Photo: Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports)

Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick still is Duke star J.J. Redick to many basketball fans, but his shooting could push the Clippers to the championship this spring. The better he plays, the better the team performs, and he is rounding back into form after missing most of the second half. (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

Rockets power forward Terrence Jones has become the ideal companion to Dwight Howard down low, a perfect fit because he can rebound and play in the paint but also has the versatility to give Howard space. But he only is beginning to tap his vast potential now. (Photo: Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports)

Trail Blazers power forward Thomas Robinson has played for three teams in two seasons since being drafted fifth overall in 2012, but he finally is developing a role behind (and filling in for) LaMarcus Aldridge. (Photo: Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports)

Warriors forward Draymond Green is one of the most colorful and excitable players in the NBA, but with Andrew Bogut's injury, he will be counted on even more to produce. His rebounding and playmaking at either forward spot make him a unique force. (Photo: Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports)

Mavericks power forward Brandan Wright has taken efficiency to a new level in making 67.2% of his shots and rarely touching the ball in other instances. His springy athleticism has returned after a glut of injuries, and he is a key piece next to and in backing up Dirk Nowitzki. (Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)

Grizzlies small forward Mike Miller won two titles with the Heat while struggling with all sorts of injuries. He's been the most healthy player on the Grizzlies this season, though, and is shooting as well as ever. This would be a chance to put a stamp on his career. (Photo: Justin Ford, USA TODAY Sports)